Dogs experience neck and shoulder pain for a variety of reasons. Knowing the symptoms of such injuries along with common causes will assist you in the prevention and cure.
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Observe Your Healthy Dog
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Take note of the way your healthy dog walks, runs, jumps and climbs stairs. Neck and shoulder injuries are usually manifest in subtle or obvious changes in these activities.
Use Empathy
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How would you behave with neck or shoulder pain? You'd move your head gingerly. You'd hesitate before raising your arms or bending over or lifting. It's the same for your dog. Hesitancy to climb the stairs or jump onto the couch, or pained whimpers during these basic activities are warning signs.
Causes of Neck and Shoulder Injury
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Some causes of neck and shoulder injury are dramatic. A bite from another animal would puncture your dog's skin and muscle, and perhaps impart disease. A fall from a high place could break bones or tear ligaments. Dramatic injuries of this type require immediate veterinary care.
Other Causes
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Dogs love to play, run and romp. They often get rambunctious with other dogs. A dog might suffer an injury while running yet show no sign of it at the time. It could wrench its back wrestling with a playmate yet show no discomfort for days.
Illness
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Illness and disease sometimes produce shoulder and neck pain symptoms. Toxic plants, for example, can cause muscle cramps that result in behaviors identical to those caused by back injury. Dogs that limp, move tentatively and stiffly, or cry when they walk or run or climb need professional attention.
Old Age
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Dogs get weak in the joints as they age. They become more susceptible to neck and shoulder injuries. Take precautions with your aging dog just like you did when it was a puppy. Sustained, rigorous exercise harms more than helps young and old dogs alike.
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